It's no wonder tillandsias' popularity is thriving

You may or may not have noticed that tillandsias are popping up everywhere. Not so much as garden plants, although you might have spotted an air plant or two growing in the crooks of trees.

Mostly they are kept as house and patio plants. Since tillandsias are epiphytes, they grow without soil, making them easy to pop on a wall, hang near a sunny window or place in the bathroom where some sorts thrive in steamy conditions.

There is a pretty good chance that most tillandsias don't live long. The trouble starts when gardeners treat them alike. Thin-leaved tillandsias dry out faster than thick-leaved kinds. And gray tillandsias provide a clue to their care – usually arid conditions.

Some air plants hail from steamy jungles in Costa Rica. Others are found in the arid mountains in the Andes. Know the background of your plants for the best clue on how to care for them.

Although air plants are related to bromeliads, they do not hold water in their cups. Instead, tillandsias draw moisture from the air. If that air is dry, like ours, gardeners need to provide what's missing in the way of moisture – and on a regular basis.

In addition to misting, a long soak in tepid water helps hydrate tillandsias. Every two weeks works for many tillandsias, although finer-leaved varieties may need moisture more frequently, even every day.

Soak tillandsias for half an hour in room-temperature water. To avoid crown rot, shake off excess water and return the tillandsia to its growing spot.

You may have tillandsias and not even know it if you grow "Spanish Moss" in your trees. Tillandsia useneoides is a native in the United States found in Southern states on Live Oak and Bald Cypress trees. Just a small bunch of "Spanish Moss" will continue to spread in full sun with daily watering.